Author(s): Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Astrophysics | Feminism

Review: "The Disordered Cosmos, more than most other science books, is an urgently needed call for justice. It is brave, passionate and angry, and rightly so. If the book and documentary A Brief History of Time were influential in making a wider public accept and celebrate disabled scientists, Prescod-Weinstein's book will hopefully do the same for people of colour and other marginalized groups."--Nature Astronomy

"The Disordered Cosmos is equal parts critical analysis, personal essay, and popular science...Prescod-Weinstein not only narrates her struggle to become a cosmologist, she advocates for all peoples whom physicists have undervalued...Prescod-Weinstein's most vital work, in the end, is the emancipation of Black and brown children who still cannot see their futures in the stars."?--Undark

"A groundbreaking work of science and art--a clarion call to think rigorously, to question fearlessly, to challenge what we've long been told and reimagine what could exist in our search to better understand ourselves and our universe."
--Nicole Chung, author of All You Can Ever Know

"A resonant paean to the beauties of the cosmos and a persuasive appeal for solutions to injustices in science."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A rethinking of what time, space and matter mean when we understand the systems of oppression and exploitation that structure our realities. We've never more needed a map of the stars to guide us, and Chanda gives us a great big new one in this book."
--Kaitlyn Greenidge, author of We Love You, Charlie Freeman

"In this eye-opening book Prescod-Weinstein describes her work studying particle physics, dark matter and cosmology, as well as how that work is affected by being a 'queer agender Black woman' in physics. She has faced abuse most of her colleagues have not--told by advisers she was not smart enough to be a physicist and subjected to racism and even physical assault from fellow researchers. Somehow her awe at the cosmos remained intact, and it illuminates this fascinating tour of the universe, from cosmic inflation to the physics of melanin."--Scientific American

"In this one-of-a-kind book, Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein simultaneously discusses her love of physics while placing that love in tension with science as a discipline that is deeply marred by racism...the author shows us that the field of science can do amazing things, but also, if placed in the wrong hands, can be deeply damaging to people of color."--Book Riot

"In this powerful and compelling book, Prescod-Weinstein lays it out patently: Racist and sexist policies and behaviors are rampant across all scientific disciplines...From the hunt for dark matter (her area of expertise) to the often fraught relationship among Indigenous peoples, their lands, and high-tech experiments, Prescod-Weinstein's deep dives into complex subjects are accessible and exhilarating... A timely, necessary, stellar book--a game-changer."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Author Biography: Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women's and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. She is also a columnist for New Scientist and Physics World. Her research in theoretical physics focuses on cosmology, neutron stars, and dark matter. She also does research in Black feminist science, technology, and society studies. Nature recognized her as one of 10 people who shaped science in 2020, and Essence has recognized her as one of "15 Black Women Who Are Paving the Way in STEM and Breaking Barriers." A cofounder of Particles for Justice, she received the 2017 LGBT+ Physicists Acknowledgement of Excellence Award for her contributions to improving conditions for marginalized people in physics and the 2021 American Physical Society Edward A. Bouchet Award for her contributions to particle cosmology. Originally from East L.A., she divides her time between the New Hampshire Seacoast and Cambridge, Massachusetts.